reath tell him that he has, is a
square contradiction and a self-evident falsehood, only equaled by the
statement that a thing is a round square, or that ice is red hot. Let
whatever fall that may, it is true that a thing can not _be_, _exist_,
and _not_ be, not _exist_, at the same time. The sinner is either
passive or active in his conversion. He can not be both. If he has not
the power to begin and _convert_, it follows that all who have died in
sin were fated to ruin without remedy. Philosophers have said, "that the
will is determined by motives, purposes, intentions, or reasons."
Granting this to be true, we _can not_ admit that the will is
_necessarily_ determined by motives and purposes; for it is the
self-determining power of the mind that gives a motive, or reason, that
weight and influence whereby our course is determined. In other words,
it depends on ourselves whether we will act from one motive or another.

Action from motive always begins in ourselves. And if conversion is the
result of motive power, it begins in ourselves and by ourselves. Let a
man be tempted to steal, his motive is the love of money. But _if he_
refrains from the deed, his motive is a regard for duty. If he suffers
himself to be governed by the first, he is a thief and deserves
punishment, but if he allows himself to be governed by the second, he
has done well. The laws of every country suppose that men have it in
their power to give to either motive that regard which will determine
their conduct. The divine laws allow the same, placing motives high as
heaven before sinners for their acceptance, and warning them with
restraining threats deep as hell. And if sinners will not receive these
threats and act accordingly, they are without excuse. The scriptures
allow that men convert from God. How is this? Have men power to cross
the chasm backwards, and are not able, at the same time to cross it in a
forward movement? Strange logic, this! It is the same old philosophy
that sinners have the power to go to hell, but none to get to heaven;
that they are free, like the slave, to do the tyrant's bidding; that
they are free like the water that stands in the pool; that they are
mechanically free, are simply active when wrought upon, the same as any
machinery. If this be so, why is it that so many are left in an
unconverted state? Is it because the good Spirit prefers the existence
of iniquity and crime? If the Lord brings about the salvation of some